Obituary: Ralph Edward Gerhard

Monday

Jul 1, 2013 at 4:33 PMJul 1, 2013 at 4:38 PM

Obituary: Ralph Edward Gerhard

Pathway Memorial Funeral Home

On February 4, 1933, in Marshall, MO, Ralph Edward Gerhard was born to Edward and Kathleen Gadberry Gerhard. He attended elementary school in Marshall and later received a Bachelor of Science from Missouri Valley College in Marshall followed by a Masters Degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Ralph continued his education with additional graduate studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, Hampton University in Hampton, VA, William Woods University at Fulton and William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA. From 1956 until 1958 he served his country in the United States Army as a Specialist 3rd Class. He moved to Randolph County in 1958 and began his career at Moberly Area Community College where he taught American History, World History, and World Geography. His favorite classes to teach, however, were the Missouri and Randolph County History classes. He taught at MACC for 35 years. Ralph was a dedicated educator who was always willing and ready to instruct any who sought his wisdom. On June 11, 1966, he married Carol Reynolds in Lee's Summit and they have resided in Moberly for 47 years.

Ralph was a devoted member of the Greyhound Booster Club, as well as a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Retired Teachers Association, and Huntsville and Randolph County Historical Societies. He enjoyed Greyhound Basketball, Missouri Tiger Football, Basketball and Gymnastics. He liked flower gardening, reading, traveling and doing historical research. He was a publisher and author of five books in his lifetime. His last few years were spent working on the history of the Civil War in Randolph County.

Ralph departed this life Sunday, June 30, 2013, at Moberly Nursing and Rehab after a 10 year struggle with Parkinson Disease. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William R. Gerhard.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at the MACC Auditorium followed by inurnment in the Veterans Cemetery at Jacksonville. Visitation will be at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home in Moberly from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the MACC Foundation, 101 College Avenue, Moberly, MO 6270 or The Randolph County Historical Society, 223 N. Clark, Moberly, MO 65270.

Pathway Memorial Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.